The Iowa Legislature

State of Iowa

Eighty-Second General Assembly

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

For Immediate Release Contact: Senator McKinley

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 (641) 774-5784

Senate Republicans Raise Questions About Anti Smoking Ads

Over $500k in Taxpayer Money Spent

DES MOINES – In a letter received today from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Director Thomas Newton revealed that $596,000 had been spent on recent advertisements promoting smoke-free bars and restaurants.

“This is not an educational issue. People know that smoking is bad for you. This is a policy issue that Governor Culver is pushing – at the taxpayer’s expense,” said Senator Paul McKinley (R-Chariton). “It’s the principal of the matter that taxpayer money is used to advocate on partisan issues. It’d be just as bad if a Republican administration had the Department of Revenue and Finance run an ad promoting a massive tax cut.”

In his letter, Newton also stated that “$126,000 is from the Healthcare Trust and $470,000 is from the General Fund.” The ads ran primarily in the Des Moines Metro area.

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